Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:
Things That Make Me Not Want to Read a Book
Last week I shared several (well, ten) things that would instantly make me want to read a book. This week we're flipping the script and focusing on turn-offs. Ten Nine things things make me not want to read a book. No frowny faces if I mention all of your very favorite things. 😉
1. HYPE
I've been let down too many times by books that were hyped throughout the book community. No more. Now, if I'm not truly interested in a book, all the hype in the world is not going to get me to read it.
2. MISCOMMUNICATION
My least favorite trope. Ever. If a synopsis even hints at miscommunication, I'm running the other way.
3. ENEMIES TO LOVERS
This seems to be the most popular of all romance tropes, but I'm not a fan. Give me friends to lovers every time.
4. FAKE DATING
As with enemies to lovers, fake dating is another super popular romance trope. But it's not for me.
5. COMPETITION/REALITY SHOW SETTINGS
I'm not a fan of reality shows in real life, and neither do I want to read about them in books. Same goes for competition shows. If a plot is based on any kind of competition, it's probably not one that I'm going to pick up.
6. ILLUSTRATED/CARTOONY COVERS
Yeah, yeah, I know all about not judging a book by its cover, but we all do it anyway. And for me, illustrated covers are major turn-off. My reading preference leans heavily toward angsty, emotional stories so an illustrated cover basically screams "this is not the book for you!" Plus, I just find it hard to take a book seriously when the cover features illustrated/cartoony characters. *cringe*
7. THIRD PERSON POV
I find it next to impossible to truly connect with characters when a story is written in third person.
8. PUNNY/CUTESY TITLES
This goes hand in hand with the illustrated covers. Titles with puns (or overly cutesy titles) are such a turn-off and an immediate sign that it's not the book for me.
9. CELEBRITY BOOK CLUB STICKERS
This is just a personal quirk, but I'm not a fan of book covers with stickers or imprints proclaiming it as some celebrity book club pick. I don't care and I really don't want it on my book cover.
What makes you not want to pick up a book?
I hate most genre books because they are so predictable, but, when it comes to romance, for me anything goes---miscommunication, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, cartoony-characters---the unlikelier, the better, and the sillier, the better. I do not know why I am like this. But, please, please, romance authors, I beg you to know when to shut the door.
ReplyDeleteI don’t like those stickers either!
ReplyDeleteHere is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
Lydia
Agree with hype! I mean, sometimes I will eventually give in, but usually like a year later. But year, seeing too many people rave about a book somehow turns me off to it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of miscommunication either but it seems to be such a prevalent aspect of romances, I can't seem to ever escape it. It gives me such a great sense of relief when I'm reading a romance and discover there's no miscommunication! 😂 I'm also not big on the whole competition/reality show thing. I've read a few but haven't really loved any. The hype also kind of puts me off books although I do (mostly) end up reading them eventually, lol.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised... Your list is actually KILLING me! Well, except for #7. That kills me when I read it! BUT I get your reasoning. Now I'm going to have to think again when I recommend you anything that fits in these categories. Oh, and I also hate illustrated/cartoony covers. I had to just go back to my list and add that after reading your post because I didn't even think to put it on my list.
ReplyDeleteMiscommunication in a romance is so frustrating and annoying. That one drives me crazy, too. And your whole Celebrity Book Club sticker one made me laugh. That turns me off a book, too. :D
ReplyDeleteMiscommunication is a huge nope for me. It just feels so artificial. And when people do nonsensical things just to move the plot.
ReplyDeleteDitto on 5.
I don't read anything during it's hype phase anymore lol
ReplyDeleteI do love enemies to lovers but I don't really read books based on tropes to it wouldn't matter much to me but....miscommunication is a big NO for me. If it can be resolved with one convo then nope...
I hate those stupid stickers!!!
Karen @For What It's Worth
I don't mind the illustrated covers so much as they blur to me. I wrote a post about this. I literally can't tell the difference between them.
I think I'm the only one that doesn't judges a book by it cover. I don't read the romance genre so a lot of these I don't come across.
ReplyDeleteMiscommunication is on my list too! But competition has me one clicking lol
ReplyDeleteI laughed at the celebrity book club thing because I get mad if I liked an ARC and it becomes a celebrity book club book. I don't get the allure of enemies to lovers. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't, but I always love friends to lovers.
ReplyDeleteThose book club stickers drive me insane, especially when they are printed onto the cover! I also relate to the hype train. I typically delay reading those books.
ReplyDeleteHyped books are one thing that I try to avoid. Don't get me wrong, I have picked up a few hyped books and enjoyed them (like Legendborn). But more often than not, I end up DNF the book (like Daisy Jones & the Six).
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/how-i-select-books-to-read/
I agree with the majority of these, but I do love punny cozy mystery titles. They just make me laugh!
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
Susan - Cozy mysteries definitely seem to go for the punny titles more than any other genre.
DeleteHype is both a turn on and a turn off for me, my interest is piqued when a book is hyped but I have been burned many time before so I am automatically slightly wary as well. I definitely agree on preferring friends to lovers over enemies to lovers. I prefer first person POV but I don't mind if a book is third person POV and have still enjoyed lots of books from that perspective so it's not really a turn-off as such. I hate any kind of stickers on the covers of my books, be it "Now A Major Movie" or Celebrity Book Club, I don't want stickers printed on the covers of my books EVER. I don't read cosy mysteries but I always find that the punny titles make me laugh, but then I have always enjoyed a good pun!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/05/30/top-ten-tuesday-422/
Jo - Those dreaded stickers on books! I mentioned the celebrity book club ones but totally forgot about the "now a major movie" ones! You are so right, those are horrible, too. No book stickers on covers ever. Ugh.
DeleteMiscommunication is definitely the worst trope out there! And stickers on book covers are just so annoying indeed.
ReplyDeleteLindsey - Miscommunication is the worst! I don't know why authors continue to use such a frustrating trope.
DeleteI HATE miscommunication! I end up spending the bulk of my reading time wanting to scream at the characters to just talk to each other! I unintentionally avoid hyped books. I just realized that pretty recently that if everyone is singing the book's praises I resist picking it up even if I want to read it. Great list!
ReplyDeleteUgh.. yes.. miscommunication is definitely not my favorite. The rest of the book has to be almost perfect to make up for that one in my book.
ReplyDeleteSAME with the hype! I used to think I needed to read alll the hyped books, and when I go down that road I have a conversation with myself about how that is a bad life choice. I also agree so much with the miscommunication trope- the WORST. Like the lie of omission trope, which is in the same vein. I prefer first person most of the time too, and seriously WHY with the stupid stickers? Extra bad if they are just printed into the cover like that, blech!
ReplyDeleteHyped books can really go wrong for me too, but it's usually a book I wouldn't have otherwise picked up that I do because of hype. Sarah Maas is one example. Not a fan. Miscommunication is sooo frustrating and I feel like it's so unrealistic! I hate reality shows, and won't usually pick up a book that involves it in the plot, but I do have to say I just read The True Love Experiment and it worked there for me. I hate those stickers, too! I couldn't care less if some star recommends a book. It's usually one of those overly hyped, "literary" books anyhow. Great list here, Tanya!
ReplyDeleteI actually quite like 3 person POV as they're more plot focused. I do tend to like such stories a tad more than character focused books overall. Either way, fantastic list this week. Happy reading! https://readwithstefani.com/did-i-read-the-books-on-my-30-books-to-read-before-i-turn-30-list/
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know what you like and stick to it. I am currently staying away from time travel, war and the cranky old person who reluctantly befriends a young person and is magically transformed.
ReplyDeleteI usually don't like celebrity book club picks either. I have trouble with over hyped books only because my expectations tend to be set too high and I am let down in the end.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope either. I hate those book club stickers too. I mean, it's great to see books getting that kind of attention but why do I need a permanent "sticker" on my book about it.
ReplyDelete